&SMOKING

SPORTSWeider Honda Racing’s HSV-010 took their first win of the seasonThe Ferrari 458 of Team JIMGAINER finished a close second in the GT300 classGT500 Winners Loic Duvall and Takashi Kogure from Weider Honda Racing and GT300Winners Taku Bamba and Nobuteru Tanaguchi from GSR&Studie with TeamUKYOtheir lead being reduced, the MOLAduo were unable to capitalise on it andeventually finished on the second stepof the podium. Keihin Real Racing andtheir HSV-010 GT gave the Honda car itssecond podium finish despite carrying alarge weight handicap of 28kg.Coming in third, it also saw a race wherethe first three starters maintained theirpositions throughout the race. Slightlymore exciting racing took place in theGT300 group. Starting at the front ofthe grid, top qualifier GSR&Studie withTeamUKYO led in the early parts of therace but second place Team JIMGAINERsaw their Ferrari 458 overtake the BMWZ4 GT3 on several occasions in the lastfew laps. First driver Nobuteru Taniguchimanaged to open up a healthy lead atthe start, but the lead was cut downconsiderably upon switching to seconddriver Taku Bamba.The anime-themed Z4 GT3 eventuallycrossed the line a mere 0.776s aheadof the Ferrari while the older F430 ofLMP MOTORSPORT took third place.Despite the blazing sun, throngs ofvisitors filled the grandstands and weretreated to a mix of nerve-wrecking trackaction as well as bustling festivities inthe vicinity. With JPM being awardednext year’s SUPER GT rights as well,we’re sure looking forward to attendingan even more successful and electrifyingevent come 2012.42 July 2011